Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-02

! ~ no vision was ever fashioned more exact
! ly like dread reality Coupled with other
dreams, with the mirror scene and with
other incidents which have not space for
recording here there was something about
it so amazingly realistic, so true to the act
ual tragedy which occurred soon after that
more than moral strength and wisdom would
have been required to let it pass without a
shudder or pang After worrying over it
for some days Mr.. Lincoln seemed no longer
able to keep the secret. give it as nearly
in his own words rs | can from notes which
| made Immediately after its recital.
There were only two or three listeners.
Mr.. Lincoln was in a melancholy medita-
tive mood and had been silent for some time.
Mrs. Lincoln who was present rallied him
on his solemn visage and want of spirit.
| This seemed to arouse him AMI without
seeming to notice her sally he said in slow
and measured tones. at seems strange how
much there is in the Bible about dreams.
There are | think some 16 chapters in the
| Old Testament, and four or five in the New,
| in which dreams are mentioned; and there are
| many other passages scattered Throughout
the book which refer to visions. If we be
lieVe the Bible we must accept the fact that
in the old days God and Hi angels came to
men in their sleep, and made themselves
| known in dremas Nowadays dreams are
regarded as very, foolish, and are seldom told
except by old women and by young men
and maidens in love-"
/ Mrs. Lincoln here remarked "Why. you
/ look dreadfuly solemn do you believe in
| drcamssn
II can't say that ! do,n returned Mrs.
/ Lincoln but had one tn. other night
which has haunted me ever since After it
occurred, the first time l opened the Bible,
strange as it may appear, it was at the
| XXNIllth chapter of Genesis, which relates
to the wonderful dream Jacob had. I turn
ed to other passages and seemed to encoun-
ter dream or vision wherever | looked.
| kept ON turning the leaves of the old book
and everywhere my eye fell upon passages
recording matters strangely in keeping with
my thoughts supernatural visitations
dreams. visions, etc
He now looked so serious and disturbed
that Mrs. Lincoln exclaimed, ''Iou fright
EN- me! What is the matter!?'
II am afraid" said Mr.. Lincoln, observ-
ing the effect his words had upon his wife,
THAT | have done wrong to mention the sub
ject at all; but somehow the thing has got
possession of me- and like Banquos ghost it
will not down.
This )nly inilamed Mrs Lincou's curiosity
the more, and while bravely dsclaimng
any belief in Dreams She strongly urged him
to tell the dream which seemed to have such
Il hold upon him, being seconded in this by
another listener. Mr.. Lincoln hesitated,
but at length commenced, very deliberately
his brow overcast with a shade of melancho-
| ly.~
About ten days ago. said he Il retired
very late. | had been up waiting for i'm
/ nrto Mt Il ntf.l,n tba I L
not hay been long in bed when | fell into
a slumber for | was weary | soon began
to dream. There seemed to be a death like
stiffness about me. Then | heard subdued
sobs as if number of people We're weeping.
| thought left my bed and wandered down
stairs. There the silence was broken by the
anne pitiful sObbing, but the mourners were
invisible. | went from room to room. No
living person was in sight but the same
mournful sounds of distress met me as |
passed along. 1t was light in all the rooms,
every object was familiar to me: but where
were all the people who We're grievlng as if
their hearts would break? | was puzzled
and alarmed. What could be the meaning
of all this? Determined to find the cause of
a state of things so mysterious and so shock
ing, | kept ON until | arrived at the End
Room which ] entered. There / met with
a sickenlng surprise. Before me was "A cata-
lalqle on which rested "A corpse wrapped III
funeral VeStmentS. Around 1t were station
ed soldiers VINO were acting as guards; and
there was a throng of people, some gazing
lnournlully upon the corpse, whose face was
covered; others weeping pitifully who is
dead IN the White House, demanded of
one OF the soldiers. The preis lent, was
ms answer lie was Killed by an assassin"
l,
linen came loud burst of grief from the
crowd which awoke me from my dream.
slept no more that night; and although it
was only a dream, have been strangely
annoyed by 1t ever since.
mat Is hoIrid.' said Mrs. Lincoln. -
WISH you had not told it. am glad
don believe IN dreams or should he III
terror from TINS time forth. y
Ven, responded Mr.. Lincoln, thought
iully, ut Is only dream, Mary. Let us say
no more about 1t, and try to forget all
about It,
This dream was so horrible, so real, aud
SO III Keeping with other dreams and threat
Cnlng present imputS of his that Mr. Lincoln